Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-28

! he cites were not SO authorized
: he original owners were not
t bound to surrender their franchise
at the pleasure of any one but the
county, nor to do it except for the
sole purpose named. They ac-
cepted the charter and built the
bridge upon that condition. AS
we'll might Rudolph and Seneca,
or MarshhGld and Pittsville, claim
/ the right to purchase and control
the bridge, as Centralia and Grand
: Rapids. If, therefore, these cities
could not purchase it directly,
they certainly cannot be compelled
to do SO indirectly. And the
county could not, was not and
cannot be authorized, TO operate
.9 it as a toll bridge. Private prop
u erty may be taken against the will
1 of the owner for public use only.
TO have compelled the original
owners to part with their valuable
franchise and bridge by a forced
/ sale to the county in order that
the county might thereafter main
tain it as a toll bridge, would have
been to take private property
against the will of the Gamer for
brtVate use, which the constitution
Of the state forbids. The opera
ton of a toll bridge is a b11vate
enterprise, carried on for profit.
! When SO carried on, it makes no
difference to the public, who are
required to pay tolls, whether
their money goes into the pockets
of individuals or of a corporation,
municipal or otherwise. Counties
are not authorized or intended to
engage in private enterprises or
speculatfons. 1t may we'll be
doubted whether they can, under
any circumstances be SO author
lied; but if they can, then as to
such private enterprises they are
as private persons, and cannot in
woke the power of eminent do
main, the power to take private
property for public use, as a means
by which, in aid Of their private
enterprises, to compel other pri-
Vate proprietors to sell out and
transfer their business. This is
/ precisely the attitude in which
! Wood County would be placed if,
after having purchased the bridge
! here upon the express condition,
and under a public pledge that it
should be maintained by it as a
free bridge, it could quietly aban-
don its public purpose and engage
in the private business of main
tanning a toll bridge. 1t is quite
manifest that it is not in the
| power of the Legislature, we're it
so inclined, in view Of the history
Of the Wood County Bridge, to
authorize the county to unload it,
| either upon the cities to be sup
ported by taxation, or upon the
people who use it, by requiring
the payment of tolls
But, it is not the purpose of this
article to rest the objections to
the policy mentioned wholly up
on legal grounds, ample as they
are. It is submitted that such
policy would be, in view Of all
the facts, most unjust and unwise.
1t already appears that the bridge
was built when the county was
sparsely settled, that it is of un-
usual length, and expensive to
maintain. 1t was purchased. by
the county and made free bridge
more particularly in aid of the
development of the county west
Of the river. This was because
by far the greater portion of un-
developed territory was 70eSt Of tie
} u0er: Something like fourteen
years time elapsed since such pur-
chase was made. In that time the
county has improved rapidly, and
is soon to become one of the
most prosperous and substantial
counties in the state, unless pre-
vented by the follies of her own
people. Aside from the most
marked improvements in the way
of making new farms and improv-
ing old ones, manufacturing in
: terests have grown up and are
still growing in all parts of the
county. Centralia and Grand
: Rapids lie opposite each other
upon the river, and except in
name are practically but one place.
Upon either side and in view OF
each other, are Touring mills,
manufacturing and mercantile es-
Establishments, churches and
schools. Here also are rival rail
road lines, and the county seat OF
the county. Much of the improv-
ments in these cities, and most OF
!, those in the country for many
miles around and tributary to
them, have been made since the
= county, became OyUner of the